Yumi Izakaya Soho - London Restaurant Review

Yumi Izakaya has now closed.

I’m not usually one to be lured to Shaftesbury Avenue - unless of course I’m in the mood to pay an ungodly amount of money to see a West End show - so I tentatively headed down to try the new Yumi Izakaya, wedged between a tacky London souvenir shop and the inevitable queues for Les Miserables. Managing to scrape past a gaggle of French children’s backpacks, we were welcomed into the diminutive, but unique restaurant. 

Venue 

Yumi Izakaya is small. A few high tables by the window, a compact open grill and bar, and some bench seating makes for a rather intimate feel, a world away from the carnage just a few steps outside the front door. A mixture of light woods and Japanese decorated materials added to this mini sanctuary. The bar and grill take centre stage, and why not? After all, that’s where all the magic happens (whisky fans, stick with me on this review). 

Yumi Izakaya Review

Cool and compact, promising casual Japanese dining at its best.

Food and drink 

Looking at Yumi’s social media you will often spot the #NoSushi messaging; and that’s because this is not Japanese cuisine as we know it. No sashimi, no maki rolls and no edama….no wait there was edamame…phew! An 'izakaya' is likened to a Japanese gastro pub, with a focus on easy informal dining and delicious sharing plates (not too dissimilar from the concept of Spanish tapas). You need not pour for hours over the menu as it’s small in choice (a put off for some), but every single item sang out to me; it’s rare for me to be in a restaurant and genuinely want to order everything.

We went for a selection of the sharing plates including; braised aubergine in sake, mirin and soy (£6), which was probably the best aubergine dish I’ve ever tasted; Pork bao (£4.75) with a slab of pork belly wedged between spongy cheeks; pork and ginger gyoza (£6), which for me were a tad bland in flavour, and Okonomiyaki (£8);  a pancake, with eggs, pancetta and cabbage…delicious! We also plumped for chicken and beef ribeye skewers cooked on the grill (by the owner) and at £4.50 for 2 skewers, were great value for money. To finish we tried their signature Mochi ball (£1.50) dessert, which was essentially a very moreish doughy outside with creamy vanilla ice cream in the middle – served on a stick.

As well as the obligatory selection of Japanese beers, Yumi Izikaya is a haven for Japanese whiskys (now the most sought after whiskys in the world it seems). I happened to mention my penchant for a wee dram and ended up embarking on a tasting of six different Japanese whiskys with the host, which blew my mind (in more ways than one). With my belly full and my head a bit woozy, I was a happy camper! (I must also mention their bottomless bubbles or beer option for £20, available any day, any time). 

 Yumi Izakaya Review

Prepare your taste-buds for some seriously big flavours at Yumi Izakaya.

Atmosphere 

We visited on a Wednesday night and the place soon filled up. With around 40 covers available there is a really cosy, intimate feel and you really do get cocooned in everything they do; a world away from theatre-land and the brashness of Chinatown over the road. The host mentioned that it’s very popular with Japanese locals (always a good sign), tourists, London locals and guests from the adjacent five star hotel. All in all, a chatty, convivial atmosphere.

Yumi Izakaya

This Soho gem is a haven for whisky lovers.

Summary 

I'm a bit biased as I love everything Japanese (even Hello Kitty), but it was a real breath of fresh air to try different Japanese fare in London, cooked with know-how and passion, by the owner, presented beautifully and full of flavour. The host was a font of knowledge on their whisky selection, so you really feel like you’re in safe hands here. Good value for money with quality ingredients make Yumi Izakaya a perfect pre-Soho night out, eatery, or simply a place for a catch up with friends, without wanting to go down the standard Japanese sushi route.

Who needs sushi anyway?

#NoSushi